Adop of France has sold its Norfolk-based blow mould tooling business to a management buy-out for undisclosed terms, creating a new company called Mouldline.27-Dec-2004

Cobham has acquired H Koch & Sons, the US manufacturer of life support systems for aircraft, for £225m.27-Dec-2004

Blackwall, the Leeds-based supplier of container services to local authorities and waste management companies, is to be acquired by Straight for up to £6.7m.23-Dec-2004

Abbseal, the glass processing company, has gone into administration with the loss of 90 jobs in Gloucester, but 370 jobs have been saved through the management buy-out of its Leeds, Hyde and Peterborough sites.23-Dec-2004

CH Bailey is to acquire Modular Automation International, the Birmingham-based supplier of bespoke machinery for automated assembly lines, for £0.3m.22-Dec-2004

Polaron has acquired Rossula, the holding company for the Lightfactor and LightProcessor lighting companies, for £0.4m.21-Dec-2004

Rite-Vent, the Washington-based manufacturer of metal chimneys with 185 staff, has been acquired by Schiedel of Germany for £5m.21-Dec-2004

Milltech Precision Engineering of Norwich has undergone a management buy-out, securing the future of the 20-strong workforce.20-Dec-2004

Kidde, the fire protection company, has accepted a £1.44bn takeover bid from United Technology Corporation of the US.20-Dec-2004

Anglian Water is considering plans to relocate its Huntingdon headquarters, in order to consolidate some of its seven local offices onto one site.17-Dec-2004

The National Assembly for Wales has awarded a £2.5m grant to EnviroWales to help build a car battery recycling plant in Ebbw Vale by 2006, with the creation of 128 jobs.17-Dec-2004

Wrexham County Borough Council is considering revised plans from HLC for the construction of a £27m waste processing plant at the Wrexham Industrial Estate, which would create about 80 jobs.16-Dec-2004

Abnormal Load Engineering has acquired the distribution services division of Alstom Power Service UK for undisclosed terms.16-Dec-2004

Johnson Service has acquired S Yaffy, the Scottish manufacturer of outdoor clothing, for £3.5m.15-Dec-2004

William Cook is to submit plans to build a steel castings plant at the Houghton Main site near Barnsley, which could create more than 400 jobs.15-Dec-2004

Thames Water is to expand the 350-strong workforce in its engineering department with 90 new jobs over the next 12 months.15-Dec-2004

Carclo is to reduce the workforce at CTP Gills Cables in Lichfield from 220 to 100 and transfer the production of control cables to India, while the remaining technical and logistics operations will relocate to the outskirts of the town.09-Dec-2004

ALM Products is planning to expand the workforce at its aluminium components factory in Newton Aycliffe from 28 to 42.08-Dec-2004

Denby, the Derbyshire pottery with 610 staff, is to undergo a £48m management buy-out backed by Bank of Scotland Corporate.08-Dec-2004

Marley Floors, the Maidstone-based vinyl floor manufacturer, is to be sold by ETEX Group to Tarkett of Germany.08-Dec-2004

Victrex is planning to expand its UK production capacity for high-performance plastic materials by 1,000 tonnes a year.08-Dec-2004

Roman Mosaic, the Tipton-based tile importer, has been bought out of administration by Tiles UK of Manchester.07-Dec-2004

MEDC, the Nottingham-based alarms and PA systems manufacturer with annual turnover of £12m, has been acquired by Cooper Industries of the US for undisclosed terms.07-Dec-2004

Invest NI is supporting a £3.2m investment by Moyola Precision Engineering at its engineered components business in Castledawson, which will create 27 new jobs.06-Dec-2004

Fleming Agri-Products has announced a £1m expansion project at its farm machinery factory in Londonderry, with the creation of up to 20 jobs.06-Dec-2004

Peak Refrigeration of Wigan and Air Continental of Cannock have been acquired by Auxilia, a new network of air conditioning and refrigeration companies with £6m of backing from Bank of Scotland Corporate.06-Dec-2004

Egger is seeking permission to expand its chipboard factory in Hexham and create a cluster of timber and forestry companies nearby, at a cost of up to £100m.06-Dec-2004

Therma-Tru is to invest £7.5m in a new Sentinel doors production plant at Treforest, near Pontypridd, with the creation of 150 jobs.06-Dec-2004

Flakt Woods is to shed 85 jobs in Colchester early next year, as part of a reorganisation that includes previously-announced plans to relocate its industrial fans business to a new £25m site at Cuckoo Farm.06-Dec-2004

Aktrion, the manufacturing outsourcing company, has been sold by Bridgepoint Capital to Graphite Capital for undisclosed terms.06-Dec-2004

James Fisher has acquired three companies in the UK and Norway for £7.3m, including Remote Marine Systems, Nuclear Decommissioning and Reanco Team.06-Dec-2004

Vp is looking to spend up to £30m on acquisitions to expand its equipment rental business.06-Dec-2004

Smiths is to acquire Medex, the US manufacturer of medical products, for £478m.06-Dec-2004

Tweddle Fabrications is seeking permission from Allerdale Council to relocate its steel fabrication business to Kirkbride Airfield, which would create 12 new jobs.03-Dec-2004

Andor Technology is to expand the workforce at its Belfast-based scientific cameras business from 110 to 170 by the end of 2006.02-Dec-2004

MacLellan Group has acquired TASS, the supplier of cradles, safety eyebolts and safety ladder tie systems, for an initial £3.2m.02-Dec-2004

BIP, the Oldbury-based plastic mouldings company, has been bought out of administration by Synthite of Mold for undisclosed terms, securing the future of 170 jobs.02-Dec-2004

Passenger Lift Services, the Smethwick-based manufacturer of access lifts with 64 staff, has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms.01-Dec-2004

Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa are to set up an aircraft engine maintenance centre at Erfurt in Germany in 2007, with the creation of 500 jobs.30-Nov-2004

Bank Bottom Engineering Services of West Yorkshire has been bought out of administration by Hystat Systems of Slaithwaite, securing the future of 21 staff.29-Nov-2004

Spice Holdings has acquired the water meter installation business of Atlantic Utility Services out of receivership for £0.6m.26-Nov-2004

Morley Electric Motors, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer of electric motors with 125 staff, has been acquired by ATB Austria Antriebstechnik for undisclosed terms.26-Nov-2004

Kidde has acquired Harden, the French supplier of fire protection equipment and services with 143 staff, for £7m.25-Nov-2004

Vizor Tempered Glass of Port Talbot and sister company Glass Systems of Swansea have undergone a management buy-out.25-Nov-2004

Get Group is seeking permission to expand its 300,000 sq ft electrical products distribution centre in West Bromwich by 20% over the next six months.25-Nov-2004

KC Engineering has acquired Hoyt Engineering of Surrey, as part of a £1.4m expansion programme that will involve the transfer of Hoyt's business to Consett.24-Nov-2004

Stanley Tools is to set up a new 20,000 sq ft head office for about 100 staff at Sheffield Business Park next year.24-Nov-2004

Rapra Technology is planning to create 50 new jobs at its Shawbury and Billingham research sites over the next four years.24-Nov-2004

Cosalt has sold its Knox Fibres carpet yarns business to management for £3.3m, as part of a strategy to focus on workwear, safety equipment and holiday homes.24-Nov-2004

Carmichael International, the Worcester-based manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles with about 100 staff, has been acquired by the Amdac subsidiary of Pesaka Astana of Malaysia.23-Nov-2004

Zero Waste Holdings of Port Clarence and Atlantic Waste Holdings of Peterborough have been acquired by shell company Augean for £106m, and the deals are being funded by a £100m share placing.22-Nov-2004

Osborne Engineering has acquired Turbo Power Services of Loughborough for £0.4m, in order to expand its range of services for the offshore and power generation industries.18-Nov-2004

BBI Holdings, the rapid testing company, is planning to expand the capacity at its Cardiff factory over the next six months, and is also seeking a manufacturing presence in the US.17-Nov-2004

Meggitt is to acquire Wilcoxon Research, the US manufacturer of sensors, for £8m.16-Nov-2004

Spectrum Architectural Coatings is creating 40 new jobs in Tipton, as part of a £2.5m expansion of its powder-coated aluminium frames business.16-Nov-2004

Hillarys Blinds is to create 26 jobs in Nottingham and ten in Washington, Tyne & Wear, in order to expand its made-to-measure blinds service.16-Nov-2004

Invest NI is to provide financial assistance to NC Engineering for the £1.5m expansion of its engineering products factory in Armagh, which will create 25 jobs.15-Nov-2004

Sims Group has acquired MIREC, the waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling company with sites in the Benelux countries, Sweden and the UK.15-Nov-2004

GKN Aerospace is to create 60 new jobs at its site in East Cowes, having won a £93m military contract.15-Nov-2004

Melloy Castings of Newport and MCL Engineering of Pontyclun have merged to form a new aluminium components group with 50 staff.12-Nov-2004

WHS Halo is seeking permission to expand its PVCu windows factory at Minworth in the West Midlands, which would create 140 new jobs.12-Nov-2004

HBCL Coldstores has acquired Panelform, the Bradford-based manufacturer of panels for cold rooms, for undisclosed terms.12-Nov-2004

David Nieper has extended its clothing workshops and studios in Alfreton, and hopes to create 100 new jobs eventually.12-Nov-2004

Cheshire Clothing Company has been bought out of administration by a management consortium, securing the future of 112 staff at its luxury clothing factory in Crewe.11-Nov-2004

KeyMed is to create 100 extra jobs at its surgical instruments business in Southend, in order to expand into the US market.11-Nov-2004

Fenner is planning to invest a further £5m in its Chinese conveyor belt operations, in order to benefit from the growth in mining in Asia.11-Nov-2004

Polatis of Cambridge has secured a £2.5m investment from Prelude, 3i, Alta Berkeley and Eontech to fund the development of its optical switching business.10-Nov-2004

Scott Health & Safety is to create up to 25 new jobs in Skelmersdale, having won a £40m contract to supply gas masks to the Ministry of Defence.10-Nov-2004

Raymarine is planning a flotation by the end of the year with a valuation of up to £125m, in order to help expand its navigation equipment business.09-Nov-2004

Kidde has acquired TTS Electronics, the South African manufacturer of fire detection systems, for an initial £0.7m.09-Nov-2004

Whatman is to acquire Schleicher & Schuell, the German supplier of laboratory instruments, for £35m.09-Nov-2004

Mayborn Group has acquired Cotton Bottoms, the Sussex-based supplier of reusable cotton nappies, out of receivership for £0.2m.09-Nov-2004

Renfrewshire Council has approved plans from Euro Pools to build a swimming pool floors factory at Queen Elizabeth Avenue in Glasgow, with the creation of 20 jobs.05-Nov-2004

Bridgeport Machines, the Leicester-based engineering company, has gone into receivership with the loss of about 120 jobs, while the sales and support division has been acquired by Hardinge Group.05-Nov-2004

William Taylor, the Preston-based supplier of swimming pools and saunas with 120 staff, has undergone a management buy-out.04-Nov-2004

Centrica has acquired BASE Controls, the Canadian automation and controls company, for £6.3m.04-Nov-2004

Exel has acquired Waste Hire Services, the provider of waste management collection services with 37 staff in Telford and Bury, in order to expand its Cory Environmental subsidiary.04-Nov-2004

Tufnol, the Birmingham-based supplier of machined parts for the technical plastics sector with 70 staff, has been bought out of receivership by management.03-Nov-2004

Hill & Smith is to buy part of Lionweld Kennedy out of receivership, including the flooring, highways and galvanizing divisions, for £2.6m.02-Nov-2004

Deltron Electronics has acquired Quiller Electronics, the distributor of electromechanical components to the manufacturing industry, for £3.1m.02-Nov-2004

Cobham has acquired Spectronic, the Danish manufacturer of audio surveillance products with 60 staff, for £21m.02-Nov-2004

Stannah Stairlifts is to open a new £3.5m factory at Newburn Riverside, near Newcastle, in May 2005, and 160 staff will relocate from four existing sites.02-Nov-2004

Fibrelux Fires, the Flintshire-based gas fires business with 22 staff trading as Eurotech, has been bought out of receivership by a workers' co-operative backed by Wales Co-operative Centre.01-Nov-2004

Alurite, the Cardiff-based manufacturer of aluminium windows and doors with 22 staff, has undergone a £0.4m management buy-out.28-Oct-2004

South Staffordshire, the West Midlands water company, is to be acquired by First Islamic Investment Bank for £143m.28-Oct-2004

Planet Group is to open a new £2m conservatories factory near Accrington next month, with the creation of 50 jobs.27-Oct-2004

Lordan UK is to create 70 jobs at its new air conditioning components factory in Caerphilly over the next three years.26-Oct-2004

Hampson Industries has acquired Texstars, the US manufacturer of aircraft parts with 250 staff, for £22m.26-Oct-2004

Meggitt has acquired Schreiner, the Canadian manufacturer of military vehicles, for £2.9m.26-Oct-2004

Close Brothers Private Equity has acquired the showers manufacturing business of Baxi Holdings from Heating Finance for £82m.25-Oct-2004

Vinci Energies has bought Ford Communications and Arthur Ford out of administration for undisclosed terms, securing 70 jobs at an engineering site in Nottingham.25-Oct-2004

Hydra Group, the supplier of screens and filters to the water industry, is planning to build a new £2m factory at Indian Queens in Cornwall by next July, with the creation of up to 33 jobs.22-Oct-2004

Redditch Laser Cutting has been acquired by Advanced Engineering Group of Henley in Arden, and £3m will be invested in expanding the business.21-Oct-2004

Magnex Scientific, the manufacturer of magnetic resonance imaging equipment with 150 staff, is to be acquired by Varian of the US for £18m.21-Oct-2004

Northern Venture Managers has backed a £3.7m management buy-out from Firstserve Group of Arleigh International, the Warwickshire-based caravan and narrow board supplier.20-Oct-2004

Smiths is to acquire Integrated Aerospace, the US-based supplier of landing gear systems, for £61m.20-Oct-2004

National Assembly for Wales has awarded a £0.2m grant to Overhall Aerospace to establish a new factory to produce aircraft interior equipment in Llanelli, and up to 50 jobs will be created.19-Oct-2004

Furlong Flooring is to set up a £3m carpet distribution warehouse in Measham, Leicestershire, next year, with the creation of 60 jobs.15-Oct-2004

Roca UK is seeking permission for a £1m extension at its bathrooms business in Coalville.15-Oct-2004

James Halstead has acquired Falck Design, the Swedish flooring distributor, for undisclosed terms.14-Oct-2004

The East Midlands Development Agency has sold a 62-acre site at the former Shirebrook Colliery near Mansfield to Sports World International, and a sporting goods distribution centre will be built with the creation of 1,000 jobs.14-Oct-2004

Bendalls is to relocate its Carlisle-based engineering business to a new £2.7m factory on the Kingstown Industrial Estate next August, and its existing site will be redeveloped as a retail park.13-Oct-2004

Marshall Specialist Vehicles is to create 40 new jobs in Cambridge, as it is part of a consortium that has been selected as preferred bidder for a £1bn contract to provide support vehicles to the armed forces.13-Oct-2004

Holloway White Allom has acquired Gibson Music, the supplier of home cinema and control systems with 25 staff.13-Oct-2004

MacLellan Group is to acquire First Security Group, the London-based security services company with 1,800 staff, for £18m.12-Oct-2004

Van Leeuwen Precision has acquired M/K Wheeler, the supplier of steel tubes with 50 staff in Brierley Hill and Bury.11-Oct-2004

Norman & Underwood is to relocate its glazing business and about 120 staff to an undisclosed site elsewhere in Leicester by next summer, to make way for the Shires shopping centre development.11-Oct-2004

Wellcome Trust and the government are to invest a further £120m in the Diamond synchrotron science facility in Oxfordshire, in order to increase the number of experiments that can take place.11-Oct-2004

Yorkshire Moulding is to create 20 jobs at its site in Brighouse over the next three months, following the transfer of sister firm Keith Newmark from Burnley later this month.06-Oct-2004

Auto Extract Systems, the Halifax-based supplier of extraction and ventilation systems, has undergone a management buy-out from Danish owner SM Holdings, and annual turnover is now expected to rise to £1.6m.06-Oct-2004

Campus Clothing is to relocate its clothing manufacturing business and 17 staff to a larger site in Hinckley later this month.06-Oct-2004

Spirax-Sarco Engineering is to acquire Eirdata Environmental Services, the Irish provider of utility audit and maintenance services for the pharmaceutical industry, for up to £1.1m.05-Oct-2004

Macron Safety Systems is to relocate its fire protection operations and more than 100 staff from three sites to a larger site on the Gapton Hill Industrial Estate in Yarmouth over the next three months.21-Sep-2004

Shore Recycling, the Perth-based fridge recycling company, has undergone a £19m management buy-out backed by Royal Bank of Scotland.20-Sep-2004

HMD Pumps is to create 20 new jobs at its industrial pumps factory in Eastbourne, having been selected as the European manufacturing base for its US parent company Sundyne.17-Sep-2004

Eaga Partnership expects to double its 750-strong nationwide workforce over the next five years, having announced plans to launch a commercial solar heating division and roll out its Iguana central heating operation.17-Sep-2004

The Ministry of Defence is to relocate 340 RAF staff from Lossiemouth to RAF Marham in Norfolk, and 50 civilian jobs will be lost.17-Sep-2004

Harboro Rubber is planning to relocate its 120 staff to an alternative location in Market Harborough, clearing the way for a £40m homes and offices development on its existing site.17-Sep-2004

Avingtrans has acquired Stainless Metalcraft, the Cambridgeshire-based supplier of fabricated and machined products for diagnostic imagery, from Ferraris Group for £8.1m.16-Sep-2004

GKN is to sell its 50% stake in Aerosystems International, the avionics and software company with 400 staff, to joint venture partner BAe Systems for £14m.17-Aug-2004

Babtie, the Glasgow-based engineering consultancy with 3,500 staff, has been acquired by Jacobs Engineering of the US for about £90m.16-Aug-2004

Senior is to sell five industrial hose operations in the UK, US, Sweden, Holland and France, to Hose Acquisition Company for £8.3m.13-Aug-2004

Carter Retail Equipment has secured a £11m investment from parent group CTI to relocate its Birmingham-based refrigerated display cabinets factory to Kitts Green.12-Aug-2004

Timberland Motorhomes is looking to relocate its factory to a larger site, and suitable locations are being sought in North Lincolnshire.11-Aug-2004

Rolls-Royce has announced plans to invest £45m at its aircraft engine repair plant in East Kilbride, securing the future of more than 1,000 jobs.11-Aug-2004

Qinetiq is set to acquire HVR Consulting Services, the Hampshire-based defence consultancy, for up to £13m.10-Aug-2004

Invensys is to sell APV Baker Goldsboro, its US bakery equipment division, to Turkington Industries for £5.4m.10-Aug-2004

Athlone Extrusions, the plastics manufacturer, has undergone a management buy-out from Quinn Group of Fermanagh for an estimated £36m.09-Aug-2004

Lancashire County Council has announced proposals to build a waste plant at Preston Dock, which would handle up to 100,000 tons of household waste a year.09-Aug-2004

AWJ Glass is to set up a new £2.1m glass processing factory in Scarborough, with the creation of 15 jobs.09-Aug-2004

Farago, the knitwear firm, and Apex Dyers & Finishers have been bought out of administration by a new company called Farago Group.06-Aug-2004

Groupe Pathfinder, the Merseyside-based microwave radio technology company, has been acquired by SIAE Microelectronica of Italy for £1m, and the 25-strong workforce is expected to double over the next two years.05-Aug-2004

Scottish Water is to invest £152m in improvements to the water infrastructure across the Highlands and Northern Isles over the next three years, including £70m to build new water-treatment works.05-Aug-2004

SASH UK is planning to create up to 150 jobs in Grimethorpe, having secured a deal to sell conservatories to the US.05-Aug-2004

Wykeham Farrance, the supplier of geotechnical equipment, has been acquired by Controls of Italy.04-Aug-2004

Hillarys Blinds, the made-to-measure blinds manufacturer, has been acquired by Change Capital for about £100m.03-Aug-2004

Aga Foodservice has acquired La Cornue, the French cooker manufacturer, from Nortek for £3.4m.03-Aug-2004

Hyder Consulting has raised £3.1m in a share placing to fund three acquisitions - Roberts & Partners International of Dubai, Ashact and an unnamed environmental consultancy based in the UK.03-Aug-2004

Scipher has sold its carbon monoxide sensors business to Invensys for £1.2m.02-Aug-2004

Johnson Service is to acquire Dimensions Holdings, the corporate wear supplier, from Gresham, for £22m.02-Aug-2004

Eurogrind, the Pontardawe-based precision cutting tool manufacturer with 39 staff, has undergone a management buy-in, and is now looking to open sales offices in Germany, Spain, Italy, France and Belgium.02-Aug-2004

Caldeira, the Merseyside-based cushion manufacturer, is to open a factory in China.02-Aug-2004

PDQ Engineering has undergone a management buy-out from Washington Envelopes for undisclosed terms, and is now looking to expand the 45-strong workforce.02-Aug-2004

Hoval is to relocate part of its pressure vessels manufacturing operation from Newark to Lincoln over the next two years.02-Aug-2004

British American Tobacco is to sell Etinera, its Italian distribution business, to Altadis for £390m.02-Aug-2004

British Vita has acquired the remaining 50% of its Canadian foam products business for £15m.27-Jul-2004

Havelock Europa is to acquire Clean Air, the Bolton-based educational supplies company, for up to £6.3m.19-Jul-2004

Lewing is expected to close its clothing factory in Nantwich with the loss of 100 jobs, having applied for planning permission to build houses on the site.15-Jul-2004

Country Artists, the designer and distributor of quality giftware products with 150 staff at sites in Wellesbourne, Stratford upon Avon and the US, has undergone a management buy-out backed by ISIS Equity Partners.14-Jul-2004

KPMG has sold Lotus and FII, the Northampton-based shoe manufacturer, out of administration to Jacobson Group of Lancashire, securing the future of 40 jobs.14-Jul-2004

Electra Partners Europe is to sell Safety-Kleen, the supplier of cleaning equipment, to US private equity firm JP Morgan Partners for £280m.13-Jul-2004

New Balance, the Cumbria-based sportswear manufacturer, is to create 25 new jobs in product development, design and marketing over the next six months.12-Jul-2004

Wilshaw has sold its magnet manufacturing operations to a management buy-out for £0.9m.12-Jul-2004

Advantage West Midlands is in discussions with Telford & Wrekin Council, Polymer Training and Rapra Technology, about the possibility of setting up a National Polymer Innovation Centre.09-Jul-2004

MFI is to recruit 60 temporary staff at its Hygena furniture factory in Stockton, while 115 temporary staff are being made permanent.09-Jul-2004

Claro Precision Engineering of Knaresborough has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms, and the 50-strong workforce is expected to expand.09-Jul-2004

Numatic has awarded a £2m contract to RG Spiller to extend its vacuum cleaners factory in Chard.08-Jul-2004

Laird Group has acquired Lindman Group, the supplier of composite entrance doors, for an initial £3.2m.08-Jul-2004

Ebac is creating 60 new jobs at its water cooler factory in Bishop Auckland.08-Jul-2004

Eurocopy, the Yorkshire-based photocopier supplier, is to undergo a management buy-out for £18m.07-Jul-2004

Doughty Hanson is to sell the design and manufacturing division of Dunlop Standard Aerospace to Meggitt for £408m, while the engine repair operations are being sold to US buy-out firm Carlyle.06-Jul-2004

Mendip District Council has approved plans from Thales, the French-owned communications systems company, for the extension of its building in Wells, which would involve the transfer of work from Weston-super-Mare.06-Jul-2004

Symphonix, the Huntingdon-based manufacturer of loudspeakers, is to be acquired by Fundamental-e Investments for £0.4m.05-Jul-2004

Police5, the satellite tracking company, is to set up a new customer service office in Caerphilly, with the creation of up to 17 jobs.05-Jul-2004

Fitzpatrick Doorframes has merged with FW Watkins to create a combined Birmingham-based industrial doors and shutters business with annual sales of £2.5m.05-Jul-2004

Heywood Williams is to sell Bristolpipe, the US manufacturer of PVC pipes, to Westlake Chemical for £18m.05-Jul-2004

RPS has acquired Flow Control Water Conservation, the Liverpool-based water resource consultancy with 300 staff, and the business will relocate to RPS Water Services in Warrington.01-Jul-2004

Corus Engineering Steels is to invest a further £10m at its specialist steels operations in Rotherham, Stocksbridge and Wolverhampton, in order to increase production capacity for the aerospace market.01-Jul-2004

Heating Components & Equipment, the supplier of central heating components with 24 staff at branches in Gateshead and Glasgow, has undergone a management buy-out backed by Quantum Corporate Finance.01-Jul-2004

Havelock Europa has acquired TeacherBoards, the Skipton-based manufacturer of display boards, for up to £6.1m.01-Jul-2004

IMI is to acquire Fluid Automation Systems, the Swiss manufacturer of valves, for £20m.01-Jul-2004

VT Group is to sell some of the operations of its VT Engine Controls subsidiary to Sareline for up to £2.5m.30-Jun-2004

OyezStraker, the office supplies company, has been sold by Bridgepoint Capital to Hermes Private Equity for £80m.28-Jun-2004

Irvin-GQ, the parachute manufacturer, is creating up to 200 new jobs following its previously-announced relocation from Blackmill to a new £5m factory in Bridgend.25-Jun-2004

Office Depot is creating 100 telesales jobs at its office supplies business in Andover.25-Jun-2004

Cannon & Stokes is to create 40 new jobs at its aerospace components factory in Leicester, taking the workforce to 110.25-Jun-2004

Weeks Laboratories has acquired Church Laboratory Services, the Castleford-based materials testing company with 37 staff.24-Jun-2004

GKN is to sell its German tube connecting systems business to Eaton Corporation of the US for £26m.23-Jun-2004

Taylor Hobson, the Leicester-based manufacturer of ultra-precision measurement instrumentation, has been acquired by Ametek of the US for £50m.23-Jun-2004

Kent County Council is to consider plans from Southern Water for a £80m wastewater scheme in Thanet.23-Jun-2004

Ben Sherman, the fashion and shirts company, has been acquired by Oxford Industries of the US for £80m.22-Jun-2004

Alderley is planning to double the 35-strong workforce at its recently-acquired SMS hydraulics business in Great Yarmouth over the next three years.22-Jun-2004

Wilson & Garden, the manufacturer of blackboards, is to be bought out of receivership by Fundamental-e Investments.17-Jun-2004

James Halstead has sold Belstaff International, the operator of several licensing arrangements for wax cotton jackets and leisure clothing, to an Italian licensee for £10m.16-Jun-2004

John T Metcalfe is to create 12 new jobs on Teesside over the next three years, due to rising demand for its Metflex waterproofing system.16-Jun-2004

Domnick Hunter is to create 70 new jobs at its process filtration business in County Durham, as part of a £4.5m investment programme.16-Jun-2004

CompAir Reavell is planning to relocate its Ipswich-based manufacturing operation over the next two years, having sold its existing site to Fairview Homes.16-Jun-2004

Morgan Crucible is to sell the auto and consumer business of its electrical carbon division to Energy Conversion Systems of the US for £33m.16-Jun-2004

Ross Group is to sell its Tadmod battery charger and electrical adaptor business to Queenspark, and the net asset value of the transaction is about £0.2m.15-Jun-2004

J Barbour & Sons is to invest £1m in the expansion of its clothing warehouse and distribution centre in South Shields, with the creation of 33 jobs.15-Jun-2004

Sentinel Doors, the Llantrisant-based door manufacturer, has been acquired by Therma-Tru Doors of the US for undisclosed terms.15-Jun-2004

Rustin Allen, the London-based extruder, has been bought out of receivership by PAL Group, and production will be transferred from Edgware to Wednesbury.11-Jun-2004

Devon County Council is supporting plans from Bristol-based Compact Power to build a £9m waste-to-energy plant at Marsh Barton in Exeter.10-Jun-2004

Launa Windows of South Devon is creating up to 50 new jobs in its double glazing business, following the launch of a new division in the Southampton and Portsmouth area.10-Jun-2004

Beeston Heating, the Belper-based supplier of heating systems with 25 staff, has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms.10-Jun-2004

BAe Systems is to acquire Alvis, the tank manufacturer, for £335m, having beaten a rival bid from General Dynamics.07-Jun-2004

Avingtrans has acquired Crown, the Bristol-based manufacturer of stands for roadside cameras, for £1.6m.03-Jun-2004

Pilkington's Tiles has sold all its operating businesses, including the Pilkington's and Quiligotti brands and the 30-acre Corfe Mullen quarry, to a new company called Surface Coatings for £3.1m.03-Jun-2004

Halma is to acquire Ocean Optics, the US supplier of optical sensing systems, for an initial £14m.02-Jun-2004

Tomkins has sold Mayfran International, the US-based manufacturer of material handling equipment, to a US private equity fund.02-Jun-2004

Bioquell has acquired EMC Projects, the provider of electromagnetic compatibility testing services, for an initial £0.2m, in order to expand its Cape Engineering subsidiary.02-Jun-2004

Thames Water is planning to build a £200m desalination plant in Barking by 2007.01-Jun-2004

Martin International, the lingerie manufacturer, is to be acquired by Crystal International of Hong Kong for £17m.31-May-2004

Metflex, the Blackburn-based manufacturer of precision rubber components with 89 staff, has undergone a management buy-in.28-May-2004

Wirral Engineering Services has established a new fabrication and welding business at the former Birkenhead site of R McIvor & Sons, and the 12-strong workforce is expected to double over the next year.27-May-2004

GKN is to sell its 50% stake in the AgustaWestland helicopter business to Finmeccanica of Italy for £1.06bn, and the proceeds will be used to expand its automotive and aerospace component operations.27-May-2004

Sondex is to acquire Geolink International, the Aberdeen-based manufacturer of oil well equipment, for £31m.27-May-2004

Shanks is to sell its 24 landfill sites and related power operations to Terra Firma for £227m, and the business will be merged with Waste Recycling Group.26-May-2004

Kier has won a £12m contract from Shanks Waste Services to build a materials recycling plant at Rainham in Essex.26-May-2004

Seaward is creating 30 new jobs in County Durham by establishing two new businesses to produce biomedical test equipment and database management programmes.25-May-2004

Celvac Environmental Solutions is to increase the workforce at its environmental engineering business in Tenby from 32 to 52 by the end of the year, following a £1.2m expansion programme.21-May-2004

Primagraphics, the Royston-based supplier of radar displays with 50 staff, has been acquired by Curtiss-Wright of the US for £12m.21-May-2004

Invensys is to sell its Hansen Transmissions gearbox manufacturing subsidiary to Allianz Capital Partners of Germany for £75m.20-May-2004

Brookhouse Holdings, the composites and metals engineering company with 470 staff at sites in Darwen, Tameside and Huntingdon, has undergone a management buy-out backed by Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity.19-May-2004

Cardiff University has secured £3.2m of funding to set up an Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre.19-May-2004

GZ Media of the Czech Republic is to build a £1m CD and DVD manufacturing facility at Thomson Litho's site in East Kilbride, with the creation of 25 jobs.19-May-2004

Smiffy's is planning a £1m extension at its party goods factory in Gainsborough, with the creation of 20 jobs.19-May-2004

Wynnstay Group is to raise £1.5m in a share placing on Aim to fund the expansion of its agricultural supplies business.17-May-2004

Halma has acquired Diba Industries, the US supplier of fluid transfer equipment, for £7.9m.17-May-2004

Welsh Development Agency is planning to set up an aerospace industry centre near West Wales Airport, which will involve the creation of up to 1,000 jobs in the design and construction of unmanned aircraft.17-May-2004

Morgan Advanced Ceramics is to relocate its Rugby-based factory to a new site in Leicester Road in August.14-May-2004

Andaray Engineering has sold its Gateshead-based precision machining business to management for £0.9m, securing the future of 90 jobs.13-May-2004

Weir is looking to spend up to £300m on the acquisition of a clear liquids pump company, and is also planning to double the size of its Chinese operations over the next two years.13-May-2004

Hunting is to sell some of its oil pipe manufacturing operations to Sooner Pipe of the US for £25m.13-May-2004

Sony is to relocate its television set research and development operation and up to 84 jobs from Bridgend to Basingstoke.12-May-2004

Metallink Fluid Power Systems is to expand its rigid steel tubes factory in the Wear Valley, with the creation of 25 jobs.11-May-2004

Airdrome of the US has acquired AF Aerospace, the Rugby-based manufacturer of aircraft hydraulic components with 100 staff.10-May-2004

Tencel, the textile fibres company with 150 staff at a factory in Grimsby, has been acquired by Lenzing of Austria.10-May-2004

Whipp & Bourne, the switchgear manufacturer, is looking to relocate its 210 staff to a new site, and two locations in Rochdale are being considered.10-May-2004

Securitas of Sweden is to acquire Bell Group, the Ilford-based supplier of banking security systems with 800 staff, for £97m.10-May-2004

First Technology is to acquire BW Technologies, the Canadian supplier of portable gas detection instruments, for £106m, and has also announced the acquisition of ATMI's life safety systems division for £6m.07-May-2004

Bio-Antigen is in negotiations with HPS of Germany to secure a licence to manufacture the Bio-whirlwind system for destroying all known water-borne diseases, which could lead to hundreds of jobs being created in Wales.06-May-2004

MacQueen Air Conditioning, which has 50 staff at sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Maidstone, has been acquired by Daikin of Japan for about £3.5m.06-May-2004

Caddick has won a £6.3m contract from Rigid Group of Selby to build a new steel production facility.06-May-2004

Richards is to create 80 new jobs at its textiles factory in Aberdeen this summer.05-May-2004

Headlam has acquired National Carpets, the Rochdale-based carpet supplier, for an initial £3.4m.05-May-2004

AEA Technology is to create a further 40 jobs at its Glengarnock technology centre in Ayrshire.04-May-2004

Merloni has announced that suppliers to its washing machines factory in North Wales are to create 200 jobs, with Technoplast investing £10m in new production facilities at Kinmel Park and Pasell spending £5m at Sandycroft, Flintshire.03-May-2004

Rolls-Royce is to invest £100m upgrading four of its aircraft engine factories over the next three years, including sites in Barnoldswick, Derby, Bristol and Nottingham.03-May-2004

Apollo Lifts, the Romford-based lift contractor, has undergone a management buy-out and is now planning to establish an operations centre in the North of England and expand head office facilities.30-Apr-2004

Sigma Cryotec is to acquire Universal Vehicle Bodies of Narborough, and the business will be relocated to a larger site with the creation of more than ten jobs.30-Apr-2004

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority is said to be considering a site in Gillmoss to build one of Europe's biggest waste incinerators.29-Apr-2004

Cambridge Water has been sold by Union Fenosa to Cheung Kong Infrastructure of Hong Kong for £51m.29-Apr-2004

Corus is to invest £32m in new equipment for its steel plant in North Lincolnshire, but 236 jobs will be lost at the site and the heavy section mill will close later this year.28-Apr-2004

Invensys is to sell its Powerware power supply systems business to Eaton Corporation of the US for £313m.28-Apr-2004

UK Biometrics is planning to create 50 jobs on Tyneside and 150 nationwide, due to rising demand for its biometric security systems.27-Apr-2004

Smiths is to acquire Trak Communications, the antenna manufacturer with 425 staff in Scotland and the US, from Veritas for £63m.27-Apr-2004

Laird is to acquire Thermagon, the US-based thermal management products company, for up to £25m.27-Apr-2004

GE Sontay, the Kent-based manufacturer of machines that measure temperature and humidity with 35 staff, has been acquired by Owner Venture Managers for more than £1m.26-Apr-2004

Oxonica, the nanotechnology company, has raised £4m of venture capital to expand its sales and marketing activities.23-Apr-2004

S&P Coil Products of Leicester has undergone a management buy-out from parent company Halma, in a £2.9m deal backed by Northern Venture Managers.22-Apr-2004

Mason Cash, the pottery manufacturer with 170 staff, has been bought out of receivership by The Table Top Company of Kirkby in Ashfield.22-Apr-2004

Industrial Building Components, the Hartlepool-based manufacturer of fire doors with 65 staff, has been bought out of receivership by a management buy-out, and has been renamed Bridgman IBC.21-Apr-2004

Zyro has awarded a £1.4m contract to Severfield-Reeve Projects to build a 30,000 sq ft warehouse and office site for its cycling equipment business at Thirsk Industrial Park.20-Apr-2004

Babtie is planning to double the size of its engineering and technical services business over the next five years, and the 3,600-strong workforce could also be doubled.20-Apr-2004

Johnson Service has acquired Enfield-based HSS Event Hire from HSS Group for £1.5m, in order to expand its Johnson Hospitality Services division.16-Apr-2004

Smiths Group is to acquire SensIR Technologies, the US manufacturer of infrared-based analysers with 110 staff, for £41m.15-Apr-2004

Ardeth Engineering, the supplier of pressure vessels and process plant with 120 staff, has undergone a management buy-out, and has also announced the acquisition of Leeds-based boiler fitter Richardson Mechanical Services.15-Apr-2004

Rolls-Royce, the aircraft engines manufacturer, is seeking permission to build a £45m factory at its Filton site in Bristol.15-Apr-2004

ICurie Lab of South Korea is planning to set up a laboratory in the UK to develop a new cooling technology, and has secured a $3m investment from US venture capital firm Hansen Gray.14-Apr-2004

Densitron Technologies is to sell Densitron Control Systems to Geeplus Components for £0.6m, in order to focus on the production of displays and related products.14-Apr-2004

Cambrian Engineering, the manufacturer of steel towers for wind farms with sites in Bangor and Stornoway, has been bought out of administration by a new company called Cambrian Caledonian.14-Apr-2004

General Machine Products of the US has acquired CBS Metals, the Rutland-based cable installation equipment company with 34 staff, for undisclosed terms.09-Apr-2004

Robotic Technology Systems is to sell RTS Wright Industries, the US-based supplier of laboratory automation for drug discovery, to Doerfer Corporation for up to £8.8m.08-Apr-2004

Compact Power is to sell its waste processing plant at Avonmouth to a newly formed company called Batneec Waste Services Bristol for £5m.08-Apr-2004

Dantec, the Wirral-based manufacturer of specialist hose products, has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms.08-Apr-2004

Latchways has acquired WinGrip, the supplier of fall protection products, for £1.2m.08-Apr-2004

Bombardier Aerospace is to create 400 jobs at a new £33m aircraft manufacturing plant in Belfast.08-Apr-2004

BAe Systems North America is to acquire STI Government Systems, the Hawaii-based supplier of photonics and IT services with 125 staff, for £15m.07-Apr-2004

Ensinger is planning to expand its plastic components manufacturing facilities in South Wales at a cost of £5.2m, and 48 new jobs will be created.07-Apr-2004

Cobham has acquired DTC Communications, the US-based supplier of surveillance equipment, for £26m.07-Apr-2004

Comeleon is to recruit a further 30 staff at its County Durham-based technology business.05-Apr-2004

First Technology is to acquire 90% of EnviteC-Wismar, the German manufacturer of sensor products, for £8.4m.02-Apr-2004

Economatics has acquired Durham Filtration Engineers, the Tyne & Wear-based supplier of filtration products to a wide range of industries.02-Apr-2004

LG Philips is to invest £3m in new equipment at its television screen factory in Durham.02-Apr-2004

Dee Valley Group is to invest £20m in a number of schemes to improve water treatment works in Chester and Wrexham.01-Apr-2004

WH Promation, the County Durham-based supplier of equipment to the food and pharmaceutical industries with 35 staff, has been bought out of administration by Ian Shott Enterprises.01-Apr-2004

Hornby is to acquire Electrotren, the Spanish toy company, for £5.3m, and is also in negotiations to acquire Lima of Italy out of administration.01-Apr-2004

Fishers, the laundry and textile rental company with 600 staff at sites in Fife, Perth and Aberfeldy, has undergone a £31m management buy-out backed by Close Brothers Private Equity.31-Mar-2004

PHS is to set up a call centre to sell hand dryers and soap dispensers in Ammanford, with the creation of up to 200 jobs over the next five years.31-Mar-2004

Sun Coke of the US is considering plans to install a coke facility at the Corus steelworks in Port Talbot, with the creation of up to 140 jobs, but alternative locations are also being considered in France, Germany and Italy.31-Mar-2004

Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems is to invest £8m in the expansion of its aerospace components factory in Coventry, with the creation of more than 100 jobs.30-Mar-2004

MF Sealing Systems is to relocate its pump maintenance business and 20 staff to a new £0.6m factory at Riverside Park estate in Middlesbrough later this year.29-Mar-2004

Royal Doulton is to close its Nile Street pottery in Stoke-on-Trent by mid-2005 with the loss of 525 jobs, but has also confirmed plans to open a 20,000 sq ft factory and visitor centre at nearby Festival Park.29-Mar-2004

Rebus Design & Automation is to create 30 jobs in Flintshire, having won a contract to provide a smoke extraction and ventilation system for Arsenalís new stadium.26-Mar-2004

Hyder Consulting is to acquire Adamus Consulting Practice, the Australian consulting engineer with 17 staff, for an initial £0.5m.26-Mar-2004

Tubosider is to relocate its corrugated steel products factory from Warrington to St Helens, and its workforce will double to 44.25-Mar-2004

TWI has confirmed plans to develop a £18m welding technology research centre at the former Waverley opencast colliery site in South Yorkshire, with the creation of 40 jobs.25-Mar-2004

Mansfield Shoe Co is to relocate its shoe factory and 50 staff to a smaller site in Mansfield over the next few weeks.25-Mar-2004

Ferraris is to sell Instrument Technology, the Hastings-based manufacturer of components for vacuum systems, to Bansbury for an initial £3.9m.24-Mar-2004

First Technology has acquired Thames Side-Maywood, the manufacturer of custom load cells for the crash barrier testing and industrial weighing markets, from Halma.24-Mar-2004

Advantage West Midlands is in talks with Encapsulated Waste about plans to build a £5m factory to recycle electronic equipment into place mats, coasters and tiles.24-Mar-2004

Edgar Allen is planning to relocate its Bathgate foundry to a larger site and increase the workforce from 30 to 150, while its existing site will be transformed into a mix of commercial buildings and housing.23-Mar-2004

Croma Group has acquired Shawley, the manufacturer of surveillance and monitoring equipment, for a nominal sum.22-Mar-2004

Umeco is to acquire Advanced Composites Group, the Derbyshire-based supplier of aerospace and automotive components, for £44m.22-Mar-2004

Hampson Industries is to raise £14m in a share issue to fund the expansion of its aircraft components manufacturing business.22-Mar-2004

Cobham is looking to spend £500m on acquisitions to expand its defence and aerospace engineering business over the next three years.19-Mar-2004

DPS has sold its aircraft seats factory in Pembrokeshire to a management buy-out, saving some of the 68 jobs, and the business has been renamed United Aerospace.19-Mar-2004

Severn Trent Laboratories has acquired Aerotech Laboratories, the US air quality testing company with net assets of about £6m.18-Mar-2004

Chamberlin & Hill is to acquire Russell Castings, the Leicester-based iron foundry, from Elliott for £1m.17-Mar-2004

Headlam is investing £11m in a new floor coverings distribution centre in Tamworth this year, while its site in Thatcham will be expanded.17-Mar-2004

Brammer is to sell its equipment rental and calibration operations to a management buy-out operating under the name of De Facto for an initial £10m.16-Mar-2004

Dawson International is to sell Ballantyne, its Innerleithen-based cashmere factory with 200 staff, to a group of Italian investors for £14m.16-Mar-2004

Smiths Group is to acquire Dynamic Gunver Technologies, the US manufacturer of aircraft engine components, for £60m.16-Mar-2004

Nuaire, the manufacturer of industrial fans with a factory in Caerphilly, is to be acquired by buy-out specialist ECI Partners for £38m.15-Mar-2004

Polymeric Composites is to relocate to a new £2.1m composite materials factory in Clevedon by the end of the year, and the 21-strong workforce will expand.12-Mar-2004

Hevertech, the Leeds-based air conditioning and heating company with 22 staff, has undergone a management buy-in for undisclosed terms.11-Mar-2004

Milmega, the Ryde-based manufacturer of microwave amplifier systems with 25 staff, has undergone a management buy-out backed by the South East Growth Fund for undisclosed terms.11-Mar-2004

Mayborn is relocating its babycare and household products factory to a larger site in Mansfield, and capital expenditure will rise from £1.3m to £3m this year.11-Mar-2004

Miba Tyzack is planning to relocate its clutch and brake plates factory and 140 staff to a new site in the Sheffield area, having agreed to sell its Green Lane works to "city living" developer Raven Group.09-Mar-2004

Home Service is planning to create about 300 jobs at its domestic assistance call centre in Walsall.08-Mar-2004

Kidde is planning to spend more than £30m on acquisitions to expand its fire safety equipment business this year.05-Mar-2004

Honeywell is to shed 130 jobs in Redditch later this year, in order to relocate its airframe systems business to its site in Yeovil.05-Mar-2004

Stora Enso and Associated British Ports are to set up a dedicated import service centre for solid-wood products at the port of Immingham this summer.05-Mar-2004

Bernstein Group, the kitchen manufacturer, has been bought out of administration by a turnaround specialist backed by Enterprise Finance Europe, saving 400 jobs.04-Mar-2004

M&M Timber, the Kidderminster-based sawmill, has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms.03-Mar-2004

Meggitt is planning to set up a £7m electronic sensors factory in China next year.03-Mar-2004

Xiros, the medical device company, is to relocate to a new £3m research and manufacturing facility next to Leeds Bradford International Airport next month.02-Mar-2004

RJ Sheet Metal has been bought out of receivership by Technical Product Solutions, securing the future of 90 jobs at its sheet metal factory in Merthyr Tydfil.01-Mar-2004

Hockleys Windows is to relocate its Clacton-based windows business to a new site in Valley Road by April.01-Mar-2004

NEG Micon Rotors is to expand its wind turbine manufacturing facilities on the Isle of Wight by setting up a new factory in East Cowes, with the creation of up to 120 jobs.27-Feb-2004

One NorthEast is in discussions with Shipeng Laboratory of China about the possibility of setting up an office and manufacturing site in the north east to produce large X-ray machines.26-Feb-2004

Frazer-Nash Consultancy, the defence and aerospace consultancy with 160 staff, has been acquired by Halliburton of the US for about £12m.26-Feb-2004

Oceanair Marine, the manufacturer of boat blinds and screens, is planning to relocate its two existing sites and 70 staff to a new £1m headquarters at Selsey Gateway near Chichester.25-Feb-2004

Heatrae Sadia is investing £5m in automated manufacturing equipment at its water heater factory in Norwich, which will lead to the loss of up to 35 jobs.23-Feb-2004

Kidde is to acquire Gloria KG, the German manufacturer of portable fire extinguishers, for £24m.20-Feb-2004

NPL Technologies, the Nuneaton-based tooling company with 105 staff, has been acquired by Arrk Product Development Group of Japan.20-Feb-2004

HM Plant, the machinery importer, is to relocate its headquarters from Somerset to a new £5m site at Hebburn in South Tyneside in the autumn, with the creation of 50 jobs.19-Feb-2004

Turton Springs has acquired West Bromwich Springs, the manufacturer of springs for the aerospace, agriculture and defence markets with 41 staff, for undisclosed terms.19-Feb-2004

Fenner is to raise £4.7m in a share placing to fund the expansion of its conveyor belt products business in China.18-Feb-2004

Lister Trade Frames is creating 86 new jobs as it moves into a new £2.5m window factory in Stoke-on-Trent over the next few weeks.17-Feb-2004

Addis is seeking new premises in Swansea to relocate its houseware products factory, prompting speculation that up to 120 jobs could be lost.16-Feb-2004

South East England Development Agency is helping SP seek planning permission for a new composites factory in Cowes, which will create 47 jobs.16-Feb-2004

Aquator, the Trowbridge-based sewage filtration company with 55 staff, has been bought out of administration by Copa.16-Feb-2004

Falcon Foodservice, the commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer with about 300 staff, is to relocate its factory from Falkirk to Stirling in July.13-Feb-2004

Dowding & Mills is to sell its electrical operations in the Netherlands and Luxembourg to a management team operating under the name of AGW Benelux Holdings.12-Feb-2004

Smiles Engineering is to expand its Newcastle-based workforce from seven to 19, having won a contract to supply 70 low-emission diesel engines to bus operator Arriva.11-Feb-2004

The Natural Environment Research Council is to set up a £6m environmental science centre at the University of Wales in Bangor, and the existing Centre for Ecology & Hydrology will be demolished.10-Feb-2004

FLS Aerospace, the aircraft maintenance company with sites in Stansted, Manchester and Dublin, is to be acquired by Switzerland-based SR Technics for £32m.10-Feb-2004

Aggreko, the air conditioning equipment supplier, is to set up a national rental centre in Cannock in April, with the creation of 65 jobs.09-Feb-2004

Pegler, the Doncaster-based manufacturer of plumbing products with 650 staff, has undergone a management buy-out.09-Feb-2004

Cobham has acquired Precision Antennas, the Stratford-upon-Avon-based supplier of antennas, towers and microwave devices, for £3m.06-Feb-2004

Fenner has acquired Indico Europe, the Manchester-based manufacturer of rubber hoses for commercial vehicles, for £2.8m.06-Feb-2004

Castle Cement is seeking permission to use discarded tyres to fuel its £56m cement plant in Flintshire.06-Feb-2004

Elektron has sold Milmega, the Isle of Wight-based manufacturer of amplifiers with 22 staff, to a new company called Frameflair for £1m.05-Feb-2004

Interregnum has acquired Cellular Design Services, the provider of radio frequency engineering services in wireless network design with 46 staff, for £1.5m.04-Feb-2004

Donald Ward is investing millions of pounds in the expansion of its recycling plant in Ilkeston, and the workforce is expected to rise from 65 to 100 over the next 18 months.04-Feb-2004

MOS International has acquired NIM Engineering, the Newcastle-based manufacturer of lifting equipment with 40 staff, from LGH Group for £0.7m.03-Feb-2004

Celsa is said to be considering plans to invest £100m in the development of a new steel plant at its Tremorfa site in Cardiff.03-Feb-2004

Wolverhampton Council is planning to expand its recyclable waste collection service over the next 18 months, with the creation of more than 50 jobs.03-Feb-2004

School Trends, the Sheffield-based school wear supplier, is to create up to 100 jobs over the next five years, and will relocate to a new £2.5m headquarters near Mosborough in February.02-Feb-2004

Kingfisher is to reorganise its Screwfix Direct tools business, including the development of a new head office in Yeovil, the opening of a new distribution depot in Stoke-on-Trent and the closure of a depot in Leicester.02-Feb-2004

Alba is to acquire the Home Intermedia Systems division of Grundig of Germany out of receivership, in a £56m deal with its joint venture partner Beko Electronik.30-Jan-2004

Tyco Electronics is creating 80 jobs at its Crompton Industrial Instruments plant in Witham, Essex, and £1m will be invested in a new laboratory.30-Jan-2004

Corus is to invest £1.2m in the expansion of the Shotton Steelworks on Deeside, which will involve the installation of new equipment this summer.29-Jan-2004

Caledonian Cartridge Company has won permission to set up a two-storey explosives factory in Banchory.29-Jan-2004

BC Partners is to acquire Baxi, the boiler manufacturer, from Kidde and a number of private equity houses for about £600m.29-Jan-2004

JCB has acquired a 12-acre site at Church Broughton, Derbyshire, to manufacture diesel engines, and 100 jobs will be created at the newly-formed JCB Power Systems division.27-Jan-2004

Kail & Co is to relocate its precision engineering business, which has 30 staff, to a larger site in Sunderland in April, and expects to create ten new jobs this year.26-Jan-2004

Park & Paterson, the Cheshire-based metal recycling company, has announced a merger with a division of Bernhard Metals in Derby, creating an enlarged group with 46 staff.26-Jan-2004

Kestrel 3D, the developer of laser scanning technology, is seeking a suitable site for a new headquarters in the East Midlands, which would create about 45 jobs.26-Jan-2004

Spaldings, the Lincoln-based wholesaler of agricultural machinery parts with 140 staff, has undergone a £10m management buy-out from Dutch company Netagco, backed by 3i.23-Jan-2004

Gilwood Engineering, the Tyneside-based mechanical and electrical contractor, is looking to double its 30-strong workforce following a rise in demand for its services.23-Jan-2004

Invertek Drives is relocating its electronic variable speed drives business from Llanymynech to the Offa's Dyke Business Park at Welshpool, which will lead to the creation of up to 25 jobs over the next few years.22-Jan-2004

South West Durham Training is to build a £0.8m Centre of Vocational Excellence for advanced engineering in Newton Aycliffe.22-Jan-2004

VMS, the supplier of digital road and rail signs, is relocating its 53 Tyneside-based staff to the Monkton Business Park this month, and 17 new jobs will be created.21-Jan-2004

Peterhouse has sold Anglair, its compressed air and pneumatics engineering operation, to Airchannel for £1.5m.20-Jan-2004

Amdea, the association of domestic appliance manufacturers, has announced that 13 companies have set up a joint venture company to recycle materials from electrical products, under the name of the Recycling Electrical Producers' Industry Consortium.20-Jan-2004

Hemsec, the Rainhill-based insulation supplier, has sold its Installations division to a management buy-out.19-Jan-2004

Temple Knight, the photocopier repair company, is to relocate its head office to Edenbridge in Kent over the next few months, with the creation of up to 10 new jobs.19-Jan-2004

Alderley has acquired Specialised Management Services, the Great Yarmouth-based supplier of control panels for hydraulics and wellheads with 50 staff, in a £7m deal backed by Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking.16-Jan-2004

TWI, the welding research organisation, has secured £2.7m in Objective One funding to establish a facility in Port Talbot, where it will employ 14 staff.15-Jan-2004

Corus is to recruit 85 new staff at its Corus Tubes site in Hartlepool, having won a contract to supply a gas pipeline.15-Jan-2004

Rotork has acquired Deanquip Valve Automation, the Australian valve actuator distributor, for £0.8m.14-Jan-2004

Birmingham Plastics has been sold out of receivership by PKF to a sister company of HemoGroup, saving 21 of the 49 jobs.14-Jan-2004

Brita of Germany is to set up a £10m water filter factory in Bicester with the creation of 130 jobs, and production will relocate from Sunbury-on-Thames later this year.14-Jan-2004

Expro has acquired a wireless telemetry business from Cobham for £3.2m and a US-based well tractoring business from Smartract for an initial £0.7m.12-Jan-2004

Diamond Chain Company is looking to set up a factory to manufacture industrial roller chains near its existing distribution site in Blaydon, with the creation of up to 300 jobs.12-Jan-2004

Corus is to invest £12m in the installation of an additional ladle furnace at its steel manufacturing plant in North Lincolnshire.12-Jan-2004

Flakt Woods is to relocate its industrial fan factory and about 500 staff to a new site at Cuckoo Farm in Colchester, having won planning permission to use its existing site for housing.12-Jan-2004

CBL Contractors of Hartlepool is to create up to 200 new jobs, having won a £10m contract to fit the cabling and electrical installations in the new Wembley stadium.09-Jan-2004

Carlisle Brass is setting up a new £4m window and door fittings factory in Carlisle, with the creation of about 40 jobs.09-Jan-2004

Sealine is to create up to 35 new jobs at its luxury boat factory in Kidderminster to work on the production of a new yacht.09-Jan-2004

Specialized Fabrications is to relocate its metal fabricating business from Fareham to a new £1.7m factory in Gosport.08-Jan-2004

Porcelanosa, the Spanish bathroom furniture and tile manufacturer, is to set up a £3.3m UK headquarters near Wandsworth Bridge in London, and Cirus will complete construction by June.08-Jan-2004

Corus is in talks with a number of potential joint venture partners for its Teesside Cast Products steelmaking business, and TCP is looking into the possibility of increasing exports by investing £16m in new port facilities.08-Jan-2004

Charles Taylor Consulting has acquired Interprogetti, the Italian engineering design company, through its joint venture with RINA for £0.9m.07-Jan-2004

Shepley Window Systems has acquired Interframe, the Devon-based manufacturer of window frames, for an estimated £10m.07-Jan-2004

Huntingdonshire District Council is considering plans from Turbine Motor Works to set up a jet engine refurbishment operation at RAF Upwood, which would create up to 200 jobs over the next three years.07-Jan-2004

Sorsky has acquired WG Bingham, the Immingham and Hull-based distributor of workforce clothing and personal protective equipment, for undisclosed terms.07-Jan-2004